Overview
This major program prepares students for the study of the Earth and its ocean, and the ongoing processes of geophysical and geochemical change. Research at UM focuses on carbonate sedimentology and coral reefs, geochemistry, paleoclimate, tectonic processes (volcanoes and earthquakes), and the impact of rising sea level on coastal systems. This major is designed for students preparing for graduate study and professional careers.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Geological Sciences Core Requirements | ||
| GSC 110 | The Earth System | 4 |
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| GSC 260 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GSC 360 | Depositional and Diagenetic Systems | 4 |
| GSC 380 | Paleontology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GSC 440 | Petrology | 4 |
| GSC 480 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GSC 482 | Field Methods | 2 |
| MGS 513 | Introductory Geochemistry | 3 |
| MGS 514 OR 3 credit hour 300-level or higher GSC OR MGS course 1 | 3 | |
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement (lecture and lab), replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course. | ||
| GSC 561 | Communicating Geoscience | 2 |
| GSC 580 | Summer Field Geology | 4 |
| Chemistry Requirements | ||
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry (minimum grade of C- or higher) | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| Mathematics Requirements | ||
| MTH 161 | Calculus I (minimum grade of C- or higher required) | 4 |
| or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II (fulfills the Rosenstiel BS quantitative skills requirement) | 4 |
| or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| Statistics or Computational Science Requirement 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Environmental Statistics (recommended) | ||
| Analyze and Visualize Geoscience Data (recommended) | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science (recommended) | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Computer Programming II | ||
| Physics Requirements 1 | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 8-10 | |
| Option 1 (recommended): | ||
| College Physics I and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| College Physics II and Physics Laboratory 2 1 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| Option 2: | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 2 1 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| Approved Minor Requirement | 9-19 | |
Approved minors are Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Climate Science and Policy, Computer Science, Ecosystem Science and Policy, Geospatial Technology, Mathematics, Marine Policy, Marine Science, Meteorology, and Physics. | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| Calculus I (fulfilled through the major) | ||
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Additional Electives | 12-22 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121-124 | |
- 1
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement, replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course.
- 2
Equivalent Statistics or Computational Science course may be substituted with permission from the Geological Sciences Undergraduate Program Director.
- 3
Approved minors are Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Climate Science and Policy, Computer Science, Ecosystem Science and Policy, Geospatial Technology, Mathematics, Marine Policy, Marine Science, Meteorology, and Physics.
This is only a sample. There are numerous ways students can create plans of study for the B.S. in Geological Sciences major. Students should feel empowered to use the information listed in the Academic Bulletin to take charge of their education, pursue their own academic interests, and create their own, unique plans of study.
Suggested Plan of Study
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| GSC 110 | The Earth System | 4 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| A&H Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Minor Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GSC 260 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| Minor Course #2 | 3 | |
| P&S Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSC 440 | Petrology | 4 |
| MSC 204 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| A&H Course #2 | 3 | |
| Elective #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GSC 360 | Depositional and Diagenetic Systems | 4 |
| PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 106 | Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Minor Course #3 | 3 | |
| A&H Course #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSC 231 | Field Studies in Earth Systems 1 | 2 |
| GSC 380 | Paleontology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GSC 482 | Field Methods | 2 |
| PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 108 | Physics Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| P&S Course #2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| GSC 580 | Summer Field Geology | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MGS 513 | Introductory Geochemistry | 3 |
| MGS 514 | Geophysics | 3 |
| Minor Course #4 | 3 | |
| P&S Course #3 | 3 | |
| Elective #2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSC 411 | Research in Geological Sciences 1 | 3 |
| GSC 480 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GSC 561 | Communicating Geoscience | 2 |
| Minor #5 | 3 | |
| Elective #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
- 1
Recommended elective to take for the Geological Sciences B.S. major.
Additional Major Curriculum Requirements
If a student would like to add Geological Sciences as an additional major, they need to meet with the Geological Sciences Program Director before submitting their Academic Change Form to their Cane Navigator for processing.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Requisite Mathematics Requirements | ||
| Calculus I (minimum grade of C- or higher required) | ||
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Calculus II | ||
or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| Pre-Requisite Statistics or Computational Science Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Analyze and Visualize Geoscience Data | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Computer Programming II | ||
An equivalent Statistics or Computational Science course may be substituted with permission from the Geological Sciences Undergraduate Program Director for students required to complete either Statistics or a Computational course for their primary major. Approved courses include but are not limited to ECS 204, EPS 351, GEG 310, ISE 311, MAS 201, MAS 311, MSC 321, NUR 202, PSY 291, PSY 292, SOC 211. | ||
| Pre-Requisite Chemistry Requirements | ||
| Principles of Chemistry (minimum grade of C- or higher required) | ||
| Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Pre-Requisite Physics Requirements 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Option 1 (recommended): | ||
| College Physics I and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| College Physics II and Physics Laboratory 2 1 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| Option 2: | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 2 1 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| Geological Sciences Core Requirements | ||
| GSC 110 | The Earth System | 4 |
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| GSC 260 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GSC 360 | Depositional and Diagenetic Systems | 4 |
| GSC 380 | Paleontology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GSC 440 | Petrology | 4 |
| GSC 480 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GSC 482 | Field Methods | 2 |
| MGS 513 | Introductory Geochemistry | 3 |
| MGS 514 OR 3 credit hour 300-level or higher GSC OR MGS course 1 | 3 | |
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement (lecture and lab), replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course. | ||
| GSC 561 | Communicating Geoscience | 2 |
| GSC 580 | Summer Field Geology | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
- 1
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement (lecture and lab), replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course.
- Note:
Your primary major must have a minimum of 24 credits of core major requirements. They must be different than those used for this additional major.
Mission
The mission of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science is to deepen our collective knowledge of our planet through cutting-edge scientific research on the oceans, atmosphere, geology, biota, and the human dimension, while training the next generation of scientists. We transfer the knowledge gained to our students, the national and international scientific community, and to policymakers and the public.
The educational mission of the BS degree in Geological Sciences at the University of Miami is to graduate students with the ability and desire to integrate knowledge of geological science into their future careers.
Goals
In a time of increasing stress on Earth’s resources, land, oceans and environment, we strive to train our students in both the fundamentals of the Geological Sciences and natural systems and also the global environmental stresses facing Earth and society. In addition to the basic classroom and hands-on education in the various aspects of the Geological Sciences, we focus on preparing our undergraduate students in three critical areas: extensive field training and research to give students competence in dealing with the complexities of the real world; training in written and oral communication to give them competence in sharing their accumulating knowledge with their peers and also with the public; and an understanding of how increased human population and resource use is affecting Earth’s climate, environment and future character.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a strong knowledge base in the basics of geological sciences materials, history and processes (as provided in our GSC 110, 111, and 260 courses).
- Students will demonstrate a competent knowledge base in the following advanced sub-disciplines of geological sciences: sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, paleontology/paleoecology, geochemistry, geophysics, and petrology.
- Students will demonstrate research competence in supervised research projects through course, employment, and/or a Senior Thesis.
- Students will demonstrate a competence in application of their geological sciences knowledge to field research applications, including mapping, sequence analysis, paleo-environmental reconstruction, structural/tectonic history, and process reconstruction.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate their scientific knowledge and findings orally and in writing both at the professional scientific level and in lay terms.
